Comments on: Microsoft’s letter to PC gamers is full of sunshine and rainbows

By: Killerbee

Killerbee — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:56:26 +0000

I don’t mind the “Games For Windows” label (although I’m not convinced it really adds much either) but I did find GFW Live to be pretty horrible to set up and use, and there certainly didn’t seem to be much incentive to pay for a “Gold” subscription.

By: wz

wz — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 23:57:03 +0000

I so much don’t care about that GfW label, it amazes me all the time.

By: Whizzo

Whizzo — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 23:50:29 +0000

““Hellgate: London” now has more than 1 million active subscribers.”

Hahahahahahaha, most amusing.

GFW has been good for the PC, well apart from the titles that have flouted the requirements, perhaps MS could make sure all GFW titles actually adhere to the standard before blowing their own trumpet?

By: patlike

patlike — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:55:56 +0000

I’ve taken the “Live” bit out. Thanks.

By: Vahn16

Vahn16 — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:29:29 +0000

GFW isn’t working because it wasn’t ever intended to succeed long-term. It was merely a Vista hype scheme. Microsoft could be pushing it much harder, but they don’t because it’s outlived its usefulness.

By: SwiftRanger

SwiftRanger — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:12:46 +0000

Games for Windows and Games for Windows Live are two different things (one is a marketing/labelling scheme for PC games, the other is an online matchmaking service). I think it says a lot that Schappert doesn’t even mention GfWLive in this letter. Microsoft must be realising their Live matchmaking service is underperforming and receiving a lot of criticism on PC.

Anyway, aside from the rather ugly box cover label (in the cardboard box era PC games never needed cover labels and they definitely didn’t sell more or less back then) GfW isn’t such a bad idea, although working everything out perfectly is another issue. There must be a reason why not every PC dev has signed up to it.